STUDENTS SHOWCASE EXPERIENCES OF STUDYING IN SYDNEY – PART OF AN INTERNATIONAL STUDENT AMBASSADOR PROGRAM

Five students from across India have been hand-picked as part of a group of 30 students to join an exciting new program launched in Sydney to highlight student life.

The program, known as My UniLife is run by UTS Insearch, the pathway to the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), uses social media to showcase the unique lifestyle and experiences university students can enjoy in Sydney. The Indian ambassadors come from a range of different cities, including Chandigarh, Gujarat, and New Delhi.

UTS Insearch’s Head of Marketing, Ms Bernice Lester said the students provide valuable insights that would help others.

“Students from India may be thinking about studying at an overseas university without really having had the chance to know what everyday life in that city might be like,” Ms Lester said.

“The My UniLife program gives students and parents the opportunity to see what studying in Sydney looks like, through the eyes of students. They can ask current students questions about studying at UTS, how they get to the university campus each day, can they find Indian food easily or what do they love to do on a weekend.

“Our student ambassadors also have the opportunity to enhance their leadership, networking and communications skills through their role as an ambassador. Helping other students as they look at their study abroad options was a key reason for them joining the program,” she said.

Tehsin from Gujarat said that Sydney is a wonderful place to study because it offers international students a combination of experiences they would not get elsewhere.

“The best thing is there are a number of opportunities that I have experienced as an international student. I would have not seen these opportunities if I did not study in Sydney,” Tehsin said.

“There is a lot of continuing support from the New South Wales government, university and services that help you push yourself out of your comfort zone and discover your true potential. Since I have

come to Sydney, I have worked part time, acted as a Health Student Ambassador at UTS, been a notetaker for the UTS Inclusion Unit and volunteered with various student groups and charities.”

Dimple from Chandigarh said that since coming to study in Australia, she learnt many things about herself that she wanted to share on social media.

“Since I arrived in Sydney, I learnt that time management would help me in all facets of my life. Also, when you study abroad, you should learn to cook properly (and not just using a microwave). I have been here long enough now that I have few recipes to share on Instagram,” Dimple said.

Ms Lester said that with more than 30 students selected for the voluntary program, including five from India, the applicants’ academic progress, extracurricular interest and enthusiasm for sharing their lives as international students were very evident.

“We are incredibly proud of our students and what they go on to achieve and I’m so pleased that students in India will get to see their stories unfold through the My UniLife program”.

The Indian My UniLife ambassadors use Instagram to communicate with future students about studying at UTS and living in Sydney.

You can follow Tehsin (@utsinsearch_tehsin) and Dimple (@utsinsearch_dimple) and on Instagram or visit My UniLife: uts.insearch.edu.au/myunilife/

ABOUT UTS and UTS Insearch:

The University of Technology Sydney is Australia’s number 1 young university – a dynamic and innovative university based in the heart of Sydney.

Many undergraduate students choose to go to the University of Technology Sydney by enrolling in UTS Insearch where they can enhance their English Language skills if require, and develop the knowledge, skills and experience to succeed in their university study and beyond.

Students can select from a range of academic programs at UTS Insearch and may fast track into their second year of study at UTS, depending on their grades and course chosen. UTS Insearch offers programs in Architecture, Business, Communication, Design, Engineering, Information Technology and Science.